RAIN AND FLOOD.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1920, Page 2

RAIN AND FLOOD.

The weather on Christmas Eve was fine, hut cloudy. There was a light shower or two' in the morning of Christmas Day, hut about 11 o’clock the clouds cleared away and the afternoon was fine. The change promised by Mr Bates carte at night, the clouds gathering, but Sunday morning broke fine. Towards evening the weather, which" had been threatening all day, changed for the worse, and a'heavy downpour set in which continued all night almost unceasingly. In the country districts nearer the Hills the rain set in about 11 o'clock on Sunday morning. Yesterday (Monday) morning the rain continued to pour down, and the river rose rapidly. The rain contipiled and the river at noon was'at a record height, exceeding that of January of this year, which was one of the highest of some years. The flooded river backed up the drains all the low lying parts of tile town portions of Sewell, Weld, Tancred, Fifiz lierbert and Hamilton Streets being a sheet of water for several hours. After one o’clock the flood in the river dropped considerably and as the tide ran out the waters continued to fall and receded from the streets. The rain stopped its heavy downpour about midday though there were heavy showers at intervals. The heavy downpour prevented the holding of the opening day of the Westland Racing Club’s summer meeting, which was postponed until to-day (Tuesday), Th<j weather changed yesterday as the afternoon wore on and the evening was fine though cloudy. This morning broke gloriously with a cloudless sky the day being perfect for the first day’s races which are taking place under perfect weather conditions, though the course will be somewhat holding after yesterday’s downpour.